Introduction to Geology for Engineers

• Geology

  Is the study of the Earth, its origin and history, the processes that shape it, and the resources that could be obtain from it.
• Greek Word, Geo = Earth; logos = science
• Branches of Geology

  1. Historical Geology
  2. Physical Geology
  3. Environmental Geology
  4. Engineering Geology
  5. Mining Geology, Petroleum Geology
  6. Mineralogy, Petrology
  7. Geomorphology
  8. Geophysics, Geochemistry
• Historical Geology

  Is the study of the Earth's history and evolution.
• Branches of Historical Geology

  • Paleontology
  • Stratigraphy
  • Geochronology
• Paleontology

  Is the study of ancient life through the examination of fossils.
• Fossils

  Are preserved remains, imprints, or traces of organisms from the past.
• Paleontologists

  analyze fossils to understand not only the physical structure of ancient organisms but also their evolutionary history, ecological interactions, and how they adapted to their environments.
• Stratigraphy

  Deals with the study of rock layers (strata) and layering (stratification).
• Geochronology

  The science of determining the age of rocks, fossils, and sediments.
• Physical Geology

  Focuses on the processes currently shaping the Earth's surface and interior, and the materials composing it.
• Branches of Physical Geology

  • Volcanology
  • Seismology
• Volcanology

  Study of volcanoes and volcanic eruptions; their processes, dynamics, and characteristics.
• Seismology

  Study of earthquakes and the movement of seismic wave through the earth. Includes sources and effects of earthquakes.
• Environmental Geology

  Applies geological science to address issues affecting the environment and human society. It involves studying natural hazards (like landslides and earthquakes), managing natural resources, and understanding human impacts on the Earth. This field seeks to mitigate environmental problems through geological knowledge.
• Engineering Geology

  Applies geological data, techniques, and principles to the study of rock and soil surfaces for the purpose of engineering design and construction. It is crucial in ensuring the stability and safety of structures like buildings, dams, and tunnels, assessing geological hazards, and determining the best materials for construction projects.
• Mining Geology

  Involves the study of the Earth's resources (such as minerals, metals, and fossil fuels) from discovery through to exploitation.
• Petroleum Geology

  Is a branch of geological science focusing on the exploration and extraction of oil and natural gas.
• Mineralogy

  Is the study of minerals, their composition, structure, properties, and the processes that lead to their formation.
• Petrology

  Is the branch of geology that studies rocks and the conditions under which they form.
• Geomorphology

  Is the study of landforms and the processes that shape the Earth's surface.
• Geophysics

  Applies the principles of physics to study the Earth's interior and its physical properties.
• Geochemistry

  Involves the study of the chemical composition of the Earth and its rocks and minerals, as well as the chemical processes and reactions that govern the composition of rocks and soils
• Engineering Geology

  Deals with application of geology for a safe, stable, and economic design and construction of a civil engineering project.
• Gabion Wall

  Is used to reduce or prevent erosion.
• Pile Foundation

  Are underground structures that support a building.
• Geology in Construction Jobs

  • Planning
  • Design
  • Construction
• 3 Types of Maps

  • Topographic Maps
  • Hydrological Maps
  • Geological Maps
• Topographic Maps

  Gives details that are essential to understand relative merits and demerits of all the possible sites for the proposed structure. The presence of the nature of slopes, size, contours and depths of valleys and gorges and rate of change of elevation in various directions can be easily computed from such maps.
• Hydrological Maps

  Give details about the distribution and geometry of the surface water channels and also the occurrence and depth contours of ground water below the surface of the earth.
• Geological Maps

  Petrological characters and structural disposition of rock types as developed in the proposed area are depicted in this map. This gives the engineer useful information regarding the fracturing and displacement that the site rock might have undergone in the past.
• Design

  This is the application of the geological characters and conditions that finally dictate the broad contours of the engineering design of an engineering project, be it a high rise building, road, bridge, dam or a tunnel, etc.
• Construction

  Geological knowledge is applied and it is of great value to an engineer to the selection and proper use of the right type of materials of construction derived from the natural bedrocks, soils, banks and beaches.
• In its shape, the Earth is commonly described as a spheroid.
• Atmosphere

  The outer gaseous part of the Earth starting from the surface and extending as far as 700km and even beyond.
• Major components of the atmosphere

  • Nitrogen (78.084)
  • Oxygen (20.946)
  • Argon (00.934)
  • Carbon Dioxide (00.003)
• Layers of Atmosphere

  • Troposphere
  • Stratosphere
  • Mesosphere
  • Thermosphere
• Troposphere

  It is the lowermost zone of the atmosphere rising from the surface of the earth and extending, on an average to a height of 11km.
• Its upper boundary called tropopause lies at about 9km above the poles and at 18km above the equator.
• Stratosphere

  It is the second layer of the atmosphere starting from the tropopause and extending up to an average height of 50km.